Electrical connector



Feb. 13, 1945. J MALCZEWSK] 2,369,590

ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR Filed Sept. '26, 1941 Patented Feb. 13, 1945 i, um rap STATES ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR Jrmi Malczewski, Lyon, France; vested in the Alien Property Custodian Application September 26, 1941, Serial No. 412,525 In France October'i, "1939 3 Claims.

The present invention relates to electric circuits of the kind of the ignition circuits of internal combustion engines (and especially airplane engines) including mechanical connectors of theso-called straight pin type, that is to say connectors capable of ensuring an electrical connection between two pins included in respective elements of the circuit, these elements consisting respectively, for instance, of the central electrode of a spark plug andthe electrical conductor leading theretof Various solutions have already been proposed 'for'the construction of these connectors.

For instance, it is possible to make use of a tubular piece of steatite, of 'bent shape, into the ends of which the pins in question are engaged.

, 7 But a piece of this kind has not suflicient mechanical resistance and it is diiiicult to mould. Furthermore the dissipation of heat is not satisfactory and the device may get very hot.

Another solution consists in having recourse to an insulating connector made of mica mounted on the inside of a suitable junction box. In this case also the dissipation of heat is far from satisfactory and furthermore the system is rather expensive.

Finally, it has also been proposed to mount both of the pins inside a junction box one wall of which may be made of mica. With such an arrangement, better conditions are obtained from the point of view of heat evacuation, but, on the other hand, the electric insulation that is obtained is exclusively of the air type and may prove insufficient due to condensation.

The object of the present invention is to provide a mechanical connector for electric circuits of the type stated which eliminates the drawbacks just above mentioned and ensures the best possible conditions concerning heat dissipation and electric insulation.

With this object in view, according to the invention, the connector is arranged in such manner that the electric insulation around the pins or electrodes is of the mixed type, that is to say includes both an insulating material, which may surround the electrodes only partly, and air.

Other features of the present invention will result from the following detailed descriptionof a specific embodiment, thereof.

Preferred embodiments of the present invention will'be hereinafter described, with reference to the accompanying drawing, given merely by way of example, and in which: 7

Fig. 1 is a sectional view, on the line II of Fig. 2, of a portion of an armoured ignition circuit including a spark plug, the conductor that feeds current thereto and a connector made according to an embodiment of the present invention, interposed between these two elements;

5 Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the device illustrated by Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view on the line III-III of Fig. 1.

In the embodiment illustrated by the drawing,

10 it is desired to establish. an electric connection between, on the one hand, the pin, or central electrode, I of a spark plug 2, and, on the other hand, a second pin 3 connected to the electric conductor 4 of an ignition circuit, suitably sheathed at 5.

In the embodiment shown by the drawing, it is supposed that the pins are, as usual, of rectilinear shape, but it should be well understood that at least one of them might have a curved shape.

According to the essential feature of the invention, as above set forth, the connector is arranged in such manner that the electric insulation is of the mixed type, that'is, an insulating material,

which may surround but a portion of the pins,

and air. J v In order to obtain such a result, many specific arrangements may be used; It should be noted that the insulating material'must preferably be provided at the places where the electrical insulation is most needed, with respect to the conducting material which constitutes the outersheath or armour. The latter may be constituted by a junction box which is made of a shape 3 adapted to the particular function to be performed by the connector.

For instance, supposing that it is desired, as

shown by the'drawing, to connect together two pins at right angles to each other, the connector 40 is made as follows:

The insulating material 6 fills at least most of the spaces which are left free, on the side of the exterior of the angle formed by the axes of the two pins, between said pins and the wall of the junction box A.

But no insulating material is provided on the inner side, so as to leave a free chamber 1.

Preferably, box A is made of flat shape in the general direction of a plane passing through both of these axes, and the insulating material covers the sides of the box in question, but does not extend along the inner wall 8 thereof, whereby heat can radiate toward the outside through said last mentioned wall.

The above conditions may easily be complied with by means of a single piece of insulatin material which is U-shaped in cross section, as visible on Fig. 3. This shame oi the insulating piece permits an easy moulding and unmoulding, and the insulating material can therefore consist of steatite or any other suitable substance.

It should be well understood that, concerning the pins, the insulating piece may be so shaped as to conform at least partly to the surface of said pins.

Furthermore, concerning the means for ensurmg the electric connection between the pins, said means are advantageously carried by the lid-- sulating piece, which is, for instance, provided at 9 with a projection on-which contact plates ii are fixed at ill, as shown by the drawing.

In Fig. l, I have also shown, in a diagrammatic manner, at l2, sprin s for ensurnig contact between pins 0 and 3. But of course any other suitable means can be used for this purpose.

Finally, concerning box A, it is made for in stance of two metal hali=sliells adapted to be fixed to each other at 03, by welding or in any other way. These shells form two apertures l6 and iii to which can be fixed, through any suitable means of a conventional type, the two elements to be connected together, in such manner as to ensure the continuity of the armour sheath.

The junction box might, it necessary, be pro-= vided with corrugations or ribs in order further to improve the heat dissipation.

Whatever be the particular construction that is chosen, I obtain a device the operation of which results Sunlciently clearly from the preceding explanations for it unnecessary to further describe it and tl s device has, over those of the same kind as have been used up to the present time, many advantages, among which the following may be cited: I

Any excessive heating of the device is pre= vented;

The devic is very simple and it cm be marin factured at a relatively low cost;

Perfect electric insulation is ensured under the worst conditions;

The device is strong, including no delicate elements liable to break under the eflect of stresses.

Of course, the invention is notlimited to the particular application which has been above described with reference to the drawing, that is to say for ensuring connection between the central electrode of a spark splug and the electrical conductor of the ignition circuit through which current is fed to said plug.

In a general manner, while I have, in the above description, disclosed what I deem to be practical and efficient embodiments of the present invention, it should be well understood that I do not wish to be limited thereto as there might be lit changes made in the arrangement, disposition and form of the parts without departing from the principle of the present invention as comprehended within the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim is:

l. A connector of the type described for interconnecting two pins including each a conducting core and an insulating sheath, which comprises, in combination, a metallic box provided with apertures for insertion of said pins therein at right angles to each other, a piece of insulating material mounted in said box on the outer side of the angle formed by said pins engaged in said apertures, and conducting means for electrically interconnecting the core of the two pins engaged in said apertures, said conducting means being carried by saidpiece of insulating material and being so mounted as to be insulated from said metallic box both by said piece and by air present in said box.

2. A connector of the type described for interconnecting two pins including each a conducting core and an insulating sheath, which comprises, in combination, a metallic box provided with apertures for insertion of said pins therein at right angles'to each other, a piece of insulating material mounted in said box on the outer side of the angle formed by said pins when they are engaged in said apertures, said piece extending as far as the wall of said metallic box on said outer side of said angle and in directions perpendicular to the plane of said angle, and conducting means carried by said piece of insulating material for electrically interconnecting the cores of the two pins engaged in said apertures, whereby said conducting means are insulated from said metallic box both by the material of said piece and by air present in said box.

3. A connector of the type described for interconnecting two pins including each a conducting core and an insulating sheath, which comprises, in combination, a metallic box provided with apertures for insertion of said pins therein at right angles to each other, a piece of insulating material mounted in said box on the outer side of the angle formed by said pins when they are engaged in said apertures, said piece extending laterally so as to be of U-shaped section by any plane at right angles to the plane of said angle and intersecting said angle, interconnected contact plates carried by said piece of insulating material, and means for ensuring electric contact between said plates and the cores of the two pins engaged in the apertures of said box, whereby said conducting means are insulated from said metallic box both by the material of said piece and by air present in said box.

mam/n MALCZEWSKI. 

